Side effects of drugs studied on ant models: a mini review

Using ants as models, we studied until now the side effects of 47 products used by humans and, over these studies we published five summaries of our main findings. After that, we studied the side effects of six other drugs used by humans, and we here summarize these lastly obtained results. These six other drugs were dextromethorphan, amitriptylin, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, iverectin, and indapamide. For each of them, we found side effects similar to those reported for humans, but we also observed side effects not yet mentioned for humans. They concerned among others the locomotion, the activity, the sensory perception, the social relationships and the learning. Practitioners and pharmacists should take cognizance of our works for more adequately and safely used the six drugs we examined. Our six works are published and thus available, but they can also be provided by the author(s). All over our studies, ants appeared to be excellent biological models; the experiments could be made easily, rapidly and at lost cost, while providing statistically significant results.

Exploring the complex interplay in the regulation of cardiac pathophysiological functions by protein kinases and phosphatases

Cardiovascular disease manifests as an intricately complex entity presenting as a derangement of the cardiovascular system. Cardiac or heart failure connotes the pathophysiological state in which deficient cardiac output compromises the body burden and requirements. Protein kinases regulate several pathophysiological processes and are emerging targets for drug lead or discovery. The protein kinases are family members of the serine/threonine phosphatases. Protein kinases and phosphatases are pivotal in the regulatory mechanisms in the reversible phosphorylation of diverse effectors whereby discrete signaling molecules regulate cardiac excitation and contraction. Protein phosphorylation is critical for the sustenance of cardiac functionalities. The two major contributory ingredients to progressive myocardium derangement are dysregulation of Ca2+processes and contemporaneous elevated concentrations of reactive oxygen species, ROS. Certain cardiac abnormalities include cardiac myopathy or hypertrophy due to response in untoward haemodynamic demand with concomitant progressive heart failure. The homeostasis or equilibrium between protein kinases and phosphatases influence cardiac morphology and excitability during pathological and physiological processes of the cardiovascular system.

Techniques for collecting and breeding diptera muscomorpha in the laboratory

The Caatinga is the only biome restricted to the Brazilian territory, occupying basically the Region Northeast, with some areas in the state of Minas Gerais. Caatinga vegetation does not have green exuberance rainforests and the dry aspect of the physiognomies dominated by cacti and shrubs suggests low diversification of fauna and flora. To unravel your wealth you need a look more attentive, more open. So she reveals her great biodiversity, its biological relevance and its peculiar beauty. This study aimed to make a bibliographic summary of parasitoids of Caatinga, as well as their characteristics, main groups and species and studies performed.

Prevalence of melancholy in swat valley, Pakistan

Melancholy is major mental challenges that is characterize by sadness, sleep disorder, decrease energy, etc. It also have a great social and mental consequences, it is well know that depression will be the second largest cause of disability globally till 2020. The risk are even higher in developed countries. According to world health organization globally it effect more than 121 million people. Depression is a complex and multi-dimensional anarchy according to it has many faces and cannot be describing by one simple formula because it originate from numerous complex mechanism. Multi-faced nature of depression makes it difficult to find out its etiology. The purpose of this study is to find out the prevalence of melancholy in different age groups and genders in district Swat. Overall 300 samples were collected randomly across different age groups and genders in which we found the prevalence of melancholy were 48.3% in which male depressed individual were 27.6% while female depressed were 20.6%. The number of depressed individual were maximum in age group vary from 10-20 which is 15%. To conclude depression is easily manageable but it need understanding that how to control your feeling and thought and think new and positively.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): Why is it so lethal?

COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been the most dreadful mass public health threat for more than a year. An array of clinical trials with repurposed and repositioned drugs as well as with the candidate vaccines are being conducted with the aim of mitigation of COVID-19. While a few antiviral drugs and several candidate vaccines showed satisfactory results in the clinical trials, the side effects after vaccination and the evolution of new SARS-CoV-2 variants appear as a major challenge for the scientists. Present review focused on the possible reasons behind the lethality of SARS-CoV-2.

Cryptospordiosis: An infectious emerging protozoan zoonosis of public health significance

Zoonoses caused by diverse etiological agents, are important from public health and economic point of view, and are reported in humans and animals from developing and developed nations of the world. Cryptosporidiosis is an emerging food and waterborne zoonotic protozoan disease that has been detected in both human and animal populations all over the world. The source of infection is exogenous, and the ingestion of contaminated food and water is the principal mode of transmission. The oocysts of Cryptosporidium are abundant and pervasive in ambient water, where they can survive for months. It prefers epithelial cells found in the digestive tracts of a wide range of hosts. Waterborne transmission through drinking water or a swimming pool is common, resulting in outbreaks in several nations throughout the world. The disease can manifest itself in sporadic or epidemic forms. The infection has been recorded in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. The watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, anorexia and low grade fever are most commonly observed symptoms. The laboratory help is required to make an unequivocal diagnosis of disease. The preventive strategies include excellent hygienic measures to avoid the contamination of food and water by oocysts of Cryptosporidium. In addition, the role of veterinarian is highly imperative for the management of disease in domestic animals.

Ferroptosis and its facet in Cancer therapy

Ferroptosis is a regulated process impelled by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. It is a new type of cell destruction processes including apoptosis, autophagy and necrosis. It demonstrates mainly the contraction of mitochondria and expansion of mitochondrial membrane density which does not lead to any alteration in morphology. Due to the malfunctioning of ferroptosis several disorders arise which includes damage of one or more nerve which leads to numbness and muscle weakness whereas ischemia reperfusion injury, acute kidney failure and cancer also occurs. Also, ferroptosis is induced in large number of cancer cells through series of small molecules which helps in to bringing out this process. In scientific research and medicine many findings contribute in the chance of defeating cancer by genetic or pharmacological interference with ferroptosis cell death which is appealing for various researches. There are multiple pathways and cell organelles which plays a role in ferroptosis regulation. Ongoing studies on ferroptosis have demonstrated its role in humans though its mechanism is not yet clear. Recently, various studies have encouraged the role of this newly emerged cell death process and also showed some effective usage in the treatment of cancer. Here, we review the mitochondrial aspect of ferroptosis as well as discuss on the role of ferroptosis in Cancer cell therapy. We will also aim on the future scope of ferroptosis in the treatment of Cancer as well as discuss about the problems related to its clinical role which may trigger the cancer cell therapy.

Side effects of the cough drug dextromethorphan, studied on ants as models

Dextromethorphan, the currently preferred cough drug, tested on ants used as biological models, decreased the food consumption of these insects, increased their sinuosity of movement, reduced their tactile (pain) perception, and impacted their social relationships. It did not affect the ants’ orientation ability, audacity, cognition, conditioning acquisition and memory. The ants did not adapt themselves to the side effects of dextromethorphan and became dependent on its consumption. The effect of the drug quickly and linearly decreased after weaning, becoming very weak after 4 – 6 hours and null after 10 – 12 hours. Dextromethorphan led to dependence, what can also occur in humans. Being safer than previously used cough drugs, dextromethorphan can be consumed for treating dry cough, but in order to prevent dependence, should be used only at therapeutic doses and during a limited time.

A brief note on the scope of RNA interference(RNAi) therapy in mitigating COVID-19

Together with the use of number of repurposed/ repositioned antiviral drugs and immunomodulatory agents against the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, currently several vaccines are under human trials to mitigate the COVID-19 worldwide. Although the drugs and vaccines appear to be effective in maximum cases or trials; however, the associated side effects, the required induction of the long-lasting immunity, and finally, the safety concerns are of significance in terms of their consistent application/ administration. A vast research on the SARS-CoV-2 genomics and on its similarities with SARS-CoV-1 and with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have unraveled the viral avoidance of the host immunity which creates a challenge in course of effective vaccine development although several COVID-19 vaccines are currently being used commercially worldwide. Such an unsteady circumstance led the scientists also to think on a new remedial approach i.e., the RNA interference (RNAi) therapy to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 proliferation by degrading the viral RNAs. Present review discussed such strategy and its effectiveness during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.